Opportunity missed for war powers vote

Opinion: Kaine, McCain correct on need for war powers vote

This is a difficult question to answer. As commander in chief, President Obama should have gone before Congress to request a vote on whether to conduct airstrikes against ISIS, which he neglected to do. It is a gray area as to whether Congress should have voted, without this request being made, before leaving Washington.

Since he has often declared the war in Iraq to be over (the war Congress approved under President Bush), Obama cannot consider that earlier vote to include authorization of this new war (which he says is not a war). Therefore, Sens. Kaine and McCain are correct. Obviously President Obama did not want a vote for political reasons, as is his motivation for everything he does. His party is vulnerable in the upcoming election, and he does not want its candidates to have to defend their votes on this issue to their constituents.

In hindsight, this vote should have been taken months ago when we could have annihilated ISIS before it reached the many towns and bases they have since overtaken. Our president should begin to make military decisions based on the advice of his generals rather than political polls. America's safety and well-being are at stake.